Chapter 50: Tang San's Gains and Losses
Star Dou Great Forest.
The Shrek group had all gathered. At the center, Tang San sat cross-legged, absorbing the spirit ring of the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
Notably, the Gai Shi Dragon-Serpent couple and their granddaughter Meng Yiran were also present.
As in the original story, the Shrek group had fought for the thousand-year Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent on behalf of Oscar. A dispute arose with Granny Snake and Meng Yiran. Neither side yielded, and they ultimately agreed to resolve it through a soul battle.
Tang San versus Meng Yiran—unsurprisingly, Tang San won.
What no one expected was that, in the absence of Xiao Wu, some sparks flew between Tang San and Meng Yiran during their fight. Mutual affection gradually formed between the two.
Having lived two lifetimes, Tang San had long craved love, having grown up emotionally deprived. Though he didn't know why the name Xiao Wu lingered in his heart, with this brand-new affection before him, he treasured it.
With lingering gazes between Tang San and Meng Yiran, the Shrek group parted ways with Granny Snake and her granddaughter.
Not long after, they encountered the same Man-Faced Demon Spider from the original story. Tang San killed it using the Zhuge Divine Crossbow.
Coincidentally, the Gai Shi Dragon-Serpent couple reappeared, again with Meng Yiran.
This time, Meng Yiran did not challenge Tang San to a throwing knife duel as in the original. Instead, she pleaded with her grandfather to spare him.
Seeing the affection between the two and hearing Granny Snake's praise of Tang San's exceptional talent, Dragon Duke relented. He gave the Man-Faced Demon Spider to Tang San and even stood guard for him.
Zhao Wuji and the others quickly sensed the situation and, following the principle of letting things be, did not object.
At this moment, all eyes were fixed on the center, heavy with concern.
Surrounded by the group, Tang San's form was already hidden from view. He was completely enveloped in a faint red mist.
The red hue in the mist wasn't soul power glow, but Tang San's blood.
Not long before, a surge of soul power from within him caused beads of blood to seep from his skin. As they evaporated into the air, they formed that faint red mist.
Tang San's brows were tightly furrowed. His lips were tightly pressed together. His body trembled uncontrollably.
With the blood seeping out beneath his skin, it was clear how much pain he was enduring.
Within the mist, cracking sounds of bones echoed now and then. Each crack sent chills through everyone present.
Yet, the third spirit ring still hadn't appeared—sign that he had not yet fully absorbed the Man-Faced Demon Spider's ring.
Among all present, Meng Yiran was the most anxious for Tang San.
Worried, she whispered to Dragon Duke, "Grandfather, if this goes on, Tang San might be in danger."
Dragon Duke also frowned deeply.
"I know. But we can't interrupt him now. Otherwise, the result could be far worse. All we can do now is rely on his willpower."
"The energy in this spirit ring should be within his capacity to absorb. But his physical state isn't at its best, and the Man-Faced Demon Spider's spirit ring is simply too violent. That's why this is happening."
"Let's hope he can endure this trial. Otherwise…"
Granny Snake's frown deepened as well. Though her strength couldn't match her husband or Zhao Wuji, her insight was still sharp.
She said to Dragon Duke, "Old man, could it be that this Man-Faced Demon Spider isn't just over a thousand years old, but more than two thousand?"
Hearing that, Dragon Duke examined the spider's corpse carefully. His expression changed drastically.
"This is bad. I misjudged it. The spider's legs are over three meters long. That's a sign of over two thousand years of cultivation."
"This spider has definitely cultivated for more than two thousand years!"
"What? How could this happen!" Meng Yiran's tears flowed helplessly.
Why did it turn out this way?
It was the first time she had fallen for someone, the first time she'd reached Rank 30. These two joys had just brought her even more happiness, but before it had even begun, it turned into this.
Why did she let Tang San absorb this ring?
The Dragon-Serpent couple, seeing their granddaughter in such grief, could only sigh at fate's cruelty.
They also regretted Tang San's fate. Such a genius, not yet formally joined to their family, was now on the verge of death. Truly a tragic loss.
Even Zhao Wuji and the rest of the Shrek group felt regret.
Though Tang San had become distant from them recently due to Zu Zong, they were still classmates and teachers from the same academy.
Now that his life was on the line, they genuinely cared.
Oscar asked anxiously, "Teacher Zhao, is there really no hope for Tang San if he absorbs a spirit ring beyond the age limit?"
Among them, he was the closest to Tang San, and the most concerned.
Zhao Wuji shook his head helplessly and sighed.
"You all heard what the Dragon-Serpent couple said just now. At this point, all we can do is hope for a miracle."
At this moment, though Tang San was enduring unbearable pain, deep within his heart, he held onto one firm belief—Meng Yiran.
Aside from his father Tang Ritian, she was the first person to give him affection.
With that belief, he resisted wave after wave of agony.
The surging energy fluctuations around him grew stronger, and the blood mist thickened. A faint metallic scent began to permeate it.
Whether it was impurities in his body or toxins from the Man-Faced Demon Spider, no one could say for sure.
Finally—Tang San succeeded.
With sheer willpower, he fused the absorbed spirit ring's energy with his body and his Xuan Tian Technique.
He merged it with his Blue Silver Grass martial spirit.
Tang San's tightly furrowed brow eased slightly. A faint blue light began to quietly radiate from within his body.
Seeing this, Oscar rushed forward and placed a pre-prepared Recovery Sausage into Tang San's mouth.
Tang San slowly regained consciousness.
Dragon Duke Meng Shu's eyes lit up. "He did it!"
Meng Yiran, who had been crying moments ago, forgot all her embarrassment.
She didn't hesitate. Without caring about anything else, she dove straight into the now half-naked Tang San's arms.
"Tang San, I thought—55555—"
Feeling the softness in his arms, Tang San smiled faintly.
This feeling of being alive was wonderful—he could still see Yiran again.
Tang San gently comforted her, "Alright, alright, it's okay now."
The Dragon-Serpent couple paid no mind to Tang San's bare upper body.
Seeing that he had succeeded in absorbing a spirit ring beyond his level, and that he was so affectionate with their granddaughter, they exchanged a knowing smile.
It seemed the revival of the Dragon-Serpent family was within reach.
Suddenly, Tang San's relaxed expression twisted with pain.
He abruptly pushed Meng Yiran away, crying out in agony.
Eight fist-sized bulges surged from his back.
Everyone was startled.
Just as they thought something was about to burst from his body, a breeze passed by—and his back returned to normal.
Nothing had appeared.
Tang San stood up, but for some reason, a wave of stifled anger rose within him.
It felt like something that originally belonged to him had been forcibly taken away.
It was a familiar sensation—he had experienced it once before, when he was six.
At the same time, an image emerged in Tang San's mind—one he had clenched his teeth over for nearly six years: Zu Zong.
Thinking of this, Tang San clenched his fists.
"Hmph. No matter what, next time I'll beat him up."
Shrek crowd (furious): "Can you at least put on a shirt before showing off!"
Meng Yiran (dazed): "So handsome!"
———Divider———
[Ding. Congratulations, Host has stolen the external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances from the Douluo Continent. Tang San's hatred value toward Host has risen to 50%. Host has gained 2000 Hatred Points. Tang San is currently on his way to beat the Host up.]
Zu Zong curled his lip.
Beat me? With his Blue Silver Grass? Or that so-called Zhuge Divine Crossbow?
"Come on, bring it. I'm waiting. Let's see how badly I crush him. Still, this Eight Spider Lances is a real treasure."
Zu Zong clearly remembered that in the original, the Eight Spider Lances had three major abilities:
Enhancement: Increases all attributes by 50%.
Devour: Absorbs the enemy's soul power to fully replenish one's own, and can absorb toxins.
Acceleration: Increases movement speed by 50%.
In addition to that, it had excellent leaping power (in the original, Tang San could leap hundreds of meters even at Spirit King level), climbing ability, was extremely sharp, barbed, and had outstanding attack power.
It also carried a powerful poison attribute. If combined with his Blue Silver Domain, it could even activate the Devour Golden Thread skill, and could evolve alongside its host.
"System, fuse the Eight Spider Lances for me."
[Ding. Fusing Eight Spider Lances…]
Zu Zong's brow furrowed, and he nearly cried out in pain.
"Damn, it actually hurts this much? So this is what Tang San endured?"
"If he finds out one day that he suffered through all that pain, only for me to take the benefits, he'll probably explode in rage! Hahaha."
Thinking this, Zu Zong immediately sat cross-legged on the bed.
He began circulating the Nine Yang Divine Skill to absorb the external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances.
Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/anish_44